Candidate Is Ok With Turning 30

The Saturday File - ODDS AND ENDS

Give state Senate hopeful Patti Grogan credit: She's playing all the angles and playing them hard.

Grogan turned 30 on Friday and she admits she is probably the only woman in America who not only is happy to make the milestone . . . but she called the newspaper to point out that she's no longer 29.

Grogan - who proved she can play plenty of hardball in her thrashing of Democrat Bob Nabors in the Democratic primary - had expressed concerns that opponents might try to paint her as too young or immature.

City workers top blood donors

The blood feud is over, and the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud have won.

In a Red Cross blood drive, the cities and their 900 employees narrowly beat out Osceola County's 1,150 workers. The cities logged 170 pints of the red stuff to 166 pints for the county.

Organizers said they were pleased with the drive, which was conducted to boost blood supplies right before the Labor Day weekend. The total amount donated was 478 pints - just 22 pints short of the 500-pint goal. (Some people gave blood, but not on behalf of either team.)

The winners are to receive a trophy from the losers at Monday's County Commission meeting at 1:30 p.m.

Picture yourself with the Bushes

Looking to do something a little different this weekend?

Why not stop by the Republican Executive Committee's headquarters in St. Cloud to get your picture taken with George and Barbara Bush.

That's right. The president and his wife will be there, looking a little stiff perhaps, but all smiles.

The Republicans have dug up two life-size cardboard props of the Bushes and are inviting people to come by and take pictures.

The $3 donation will help the Republican Party support local candidates.